James Boswell
Books by James Boswell
The Journals of James Boswell
by James Boswell
A first-hand view of the sex life of an 18th century gentleman. That in itself is fascinating
The Life of Samuel Johnson
by James Boswell
Gretchen Rubin says: Samuel Johnson has such insight into human nature. He had much to say about self-knowledge and what it means to be happy
Peter Lilley says: This is the groupies’ biography in that Boswell was a cloying groupie, but, nonetheless he wrote the greatest Johnson biography of all time and the best known. It was written at the time and, of course, Boswell took down every word Johnson said.
Interviews where books by James Boswell were recommended
The best books on How to Be Happier, recommended by Gretchen Rubin
The author who gave us The Happiness Project passes on tips for happier living, with a little help from Samuel Johnson, Benjamin Franklin and a nun with humour on her mind.
The best books on Samuel Johnson, recommended by Peter Lilley
Samuel Johnson, author of the 1755 A Dictionary of the English Language, was not a hard-hearted Tory caricature, but a champion of the poor and enslaved, according to Margaret Thatcher’s Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Peter Lilley.
The best books on The 18th Century Sexual Revolution, recommended by Faramerz Dabhoiwala
The roots of our (generally) open attitude to sex lie not in the sixties but the 1760s, says the historian and author of The Origins of Sex, who explores this earlier sexual revolution through its literature.